The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-05-26
Washington letter.
From our regular CORE spondent.
WASHINGTON Nav 03rd 1873


WASHINGTON, May 23rd 1887.
To-day more than a thousand tents
whiten the greensward that stretches
around the Washington Monument.
The troops are now all here who in
tended to participate in tie National
Drill, and they represent the Alabama,
Arkansas, Connecticut, Colorado, Da-
kota, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mary
land, Massachusetts, Michigan, Min
nesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio,
Rhode Island, Texas, Tennessee, Vir-
ginia, Washington Territory and the
District OF Columbia.
The Drill opened this morning, but
the day was consumed by some for
malities such as naming the camp, is
suing orders, receiving the latest ar
rivals OF troops etc, and this evening
there was a dress parade by all the
organizations encamped, but the COM
petitive drill begins tomorrow. The
soldiers here represent the flower of
the National Guard OF their States,
and many OF the commands are noted
for their excellent discipline, and won
trophies in State and interstate drills.
Such camp has not been seen in
this country since the veterans of the
civil war broke their camp in '65.
Now the soldiers of the North, South,
East and West assemble in one camp
and contend in friendly strife for the
trophies of the peaceful drill ground.
The week will be exceedingly lively
in Washington. 1t will be filled with
events, brilliant street pageants, at
tractive drills, reviews and street pa
rades.
Washington can boast in superla.
tive languaget of many things 1t has
the larges public buildings, the most
beautiful streets, the widest and
smoothest pavements, the finest pub
lie grounds, the greatest number OIL
shade trees and fountains and statues,
the highest monument, and.many 9th
er things the most wonderful and
best and biggest of their kind, and
now it adds to the list the largest com
petitive drill. Up to this time the larg
est gathering of the kind was at Cam1
R. G. Drum in Mobile, two years ago
but the National Drill exceeds thai
more than three fold in the number O.
military bodies that will take part
The good people OF Washington
are rejoicing that the order permitting
the sale of intoxicating liquors on the
drill ground has been revoked. The
bar privilege of the ground has beer
sold by the Drill committee for 81 800
but it is settled that only Temperance
drinks shall be dispensed at the re
freshment counter under the CRANE
stand this week. This revocation o
the privilege has been attributed t
the influence of the President through
the efforts of some ladies of the w. G
ET.U., who called upon him to interfere
and also to suggestion from the Com
missioner OF public grounds, to the ef
feet that the War Department, (tt
which the drill ground belongs) would
be gratified if the committee woul
exclude intoxicating liquors. Blu
from whatever source the influence
may have come, most people were
pleased with final decision and actor
of the National Drill committee.
After the close of the Drill the Pres
ident will take vacation OF about tel
days, accompanied by Mrs. Cleveland
Col. Lamont and his family. They
will go to Saranac Lake, New York
where the fishing is said to be good a
this season. 1t is said that they vii
go on the second of June, which j
the anniversary of the Presidents mar
riage. Doubtless he feels the need 0
rest, and the event could not, proba